The NoMad Hotel
What's so special
The NoMad opened just a few months ago and takes its name from its location, north of Madison Square Park. It is the new kid on the block in New York. However, its many amenities and perks mean it is a strong competitor to the New York stalwarts.
How they rate it
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The location "doesn't have the same tree-lined charm as nearby Greenwich Village but the NoMad Hotel stands as a beacon of chic amid a jumble of shops selling tourist tat", says Aoife O'Riordain in The Independent. Housed in the Beaux-Arts building, built in 1903, the hotel is sleek, with "dim lighting and richly textured fabrics such as velvet and silk in deep, autumnal colours". It has 168 rooms and two "sprawling suites", many offering views of the Empire State Building. They are decorated with period flourishes including "an artfully battered leather club chair" and polished maple floors covered with vintage rugs.
The menu
The restaurant is an offshoot of Eleven Madison Park, a three-Michelin-starred eatery. One of the specials is an $80 roast chicken basted with truffles and foie gras.
The cost
Double rooms start from £303, room only. Visit Thenomadhotel.com or call 00 1 212 796 1500.
The Surrey Hotel
What's so special
If you are looking for a posh hotel in a posh neighbourhood that doesn't have the bank-busting prices of some of New York's more famous hotels, you won't do better than The Surrey. It is situated in the city's Upper East Side and offers beautifully decorated, art-filled rooms and suites.
How they rate it
"From the mesmerising Chuck Close tapestry of supermodel Kate Moss in the lobby, to prize pieces by Richard Serra and William Kentridge near the Art Deco Bar Pleiades, designer Lauren Rottet makes you feel like you've stumbled into the exquisite townhome of a billionaire art collector," says Douglas Rogers in The Daily Telegraph. The bedrooms range from classic salons' with "hand-painted wardrobes, fireplaces, work desks and private terraces" to huge suites of more than 600 sq ft. There is an in-house spa that is definitely worth a visit too. The Surrey is a "modern classic", which offers "New York living at its finest".
The menu
The Michelin-starred restaurant serves up French cuisine with dishes including beef wellington with fois gras or roasted venison loin with Tokyo turnips.
The cost
A double room costs from £370, room only. Find out more at Thesurrey.com or call 00 1 212 905 1477.
The cosiest British Inns
Modern inns may not be "full-blown hotels, purveyors of luxury and exotic choice" nonetheless, "some of them are pretty swish", says Alastair Sawday in The Independent. "They give you what you need a warm welcome, delicious food, a comfortable bed and even good company." And all at sensible prices. Here are three of the best.
The Anchor in Walberswick, Suffolk, is a "cool seaside inn where informality reigns: kids are welcome; staff are lovely and dogs fall asleep in the bar". There are books everywhere, and fabulous art, but "food is the big draw". A double room starts from £110 per night, including breakfast (Anchoratwalberswick.com).
The Pheasant (pictured) in Harome, Yorkshire, is a "small-scale pleasure dome". It has "elegant sofas, walls of books, an open fire place and a smart bar with candles flickering at night". A converted stone barn houses a swimming pool and there are "beautiful bedrooms scattered about. There's a suite in the garden and a couple of lovely family rooms with bunk beds for kids." Prices from £155 B&B (Thepheasanthotel.com).
The Lazy Toad Inn in Brampford Speke, Devon, is a "humble, gracious" inn, and "not like those fancy places that always want to blow their own trumpet". Expect "a warm cottage style throughout: painted settles, a wood-burner, the odd sofa, good art". Rooms start from £75 B&B (Thelazytoadinn.co.uk).
